2026 Events
Speaker’s Series, 2026
Come learn more about Polk County’s History from folks who love Polk County as much as we do! If you’d like to be a featured presenter, please contact info@polkcountymuseum.org.
Speaker’s Series are normally once per month. Admission, unless otherwise noted, is free! Upcoming events will be posted below.
To register for one or more of the events, please click on the registration form link below.
Upcoming Events:
July 8 | 1:00 PM: Wisconsin Water Library on plastics in the Great Lakes and how we can help
Previous Events:
February 15, 2026 | 1:00 PM: Sara DeLuca on Writing Your Life
March 29, 2026 | 1:00 PM: Brenna Weston on Tommy Gannon and his life as a gangster
April 26, 2026 | 1:00 PM: Tim Krenz on the Old Northwest’s Role in the American Revolution
May17, 2026 | 1:00 PM: Sam Linder on Polk County’s natural history
Summer Pioneer School
Each summer the Polk County Historical Society hosts two sessions of a Pioneer School for students in our Lansdale School. Students participate in 1880’s academics, games, music and pioneer skills in this one-room school house.
To make this unique program successful, we only accept children ages 6-14 who are interested in experiencing reading, writing, and arithmetic lessons as taught 100 years ago. Our goal is to provide children with an understanding of the history of education in an authentic one room schoolhouse and to have fun. There will be lots of old-fashioned games, stories, and music.
Students are asked to dress as children did in the early 1900’s; for girls, long dresses, and bonnets; for boys, bib-overalls, knickers, and suspenders, if available.
Lunches should be brought in baskets, pails, or handkerchiefs with drinks in lidded glass jars. Please no soda pop, chips, or packaged snacks. Clothing and lunch pails are available to borrow.
School will be held from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM each day.
Please note: each session is limited to 20 students to keep the classroom manageable for our teacher and to accommodate for space.
Session 1: August 4 - 6, 2026
Session 2: August 11 - 13, 2026
